Regulator



July 19, 1932. R, E. NEWELL REGULATOR F'ile d Jan. 15, 1930 INVENTOR Patented July 19, 1 932 ROBERT E. NEWELL, or IRWIN, PENNSYLVANIA REGULATOR Application filedJanuary 15, 1930. Serial No. 420,967;

The present invention relates broadly to the art of temperature regulators, and more particularly to regulators suitable for housefurnaces, boilers, and the like, although the utility of the invention is not limited with respect to the particular apparatus which it is used to control-.

It is customary in the art furnaces, for example, tureresponsive element, sometimes in the form of an expansible and collapsible bellows, which cooperates with a counterweighted lever or arm. This arm is in turn utilized for effecting the desired operation of the drafts and check valves or of the fuel control means, depending upon the type of of controlling furnace with which the control is utilized.

When an adjustment isdesire-d with such an installation, the counter-weight is moved in one direction or the other, the counter-weight normally working against the internal pressure of the bellows or other suitable means. The size of such weight, or the force required a to adjust the stiff springs which are other-' 7 wise employed, rendersimpractioal the use of a delicate control means of any type suitable for easy operation or operation fromJa remote point. r I

Furthermore, the type referredto are frequently placed at the top of boilers or furnaces in dark basements or boiler rooms, their adjustment is either neglected or imperfectly effected, partly because of inaccessibility". and partly be- 1 cause of the clumsy method of adjustment which is involved. 1

In accordance with the present invention,

there is provided an improved type of'regulator suitable for control either. at the furnace itself or from a remote point, as may be desired. a

' The construction herein disclosed by means of which the desired regulation is accomplished also embodies several advantageous 45. features of construction and operation which will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration-only, a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:-

to provide a tempera inasmuch as regulators of Figure 1 is a view, partly in vertical 'section and partly in "elevation, illustrating one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure3 is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating a safety means incorporated in the construction. 1 1

In carrying out the present invention there may be provided a face plate or front panel 2, upon which are mounted the operating parts of the regulator, and by means of which the entire regulatoris secured to the side wall 3- 0f the furnace or boiler it is desired to control. 1

It is preferable that this panel 2 be of ma terial having low heat conducting and radiating qualities, the object beingto prevent the operating parts of the regulator being so affected. A laminated bakelitesheet, for

instance, meets this requirement, having also 7 and being the necessary mechanical strength attractive in appearance. 1

Carriedby the front panel by any suitable supporting means, herein illustrated as comprising a plurality of posts 4, is aitemperature responsive means 5 herein'illustratedas comprising an expansible metal bellowsassemby or the like. This temperature resp onsive assembly is illustrated in Figure l in its fully contracted position, and inFi-gure 3 initsffully expanded position. e

Secured tothe sembly 5 and projecting forwardly through a suitable opening in the panel 2 is an extension 6; The extreme outer end of the extension 6 is slotted or bifurcated to provide bearing portions 7 spaced aysuflicient distance toreceive therebetween an operating lever 8. This operating lever has a pivotal mounting 9 in. a' bracket 10 secured to the movable port-ion of the aspanel-2.= For operating the lever 8 inaccordance with different temperature. conditions, the extension 6carries a pivot-pin 11 extending through the'bearing portions 7 and through the operating lever. Due to this construction, it will be apparent that as the bellows 5 expands, the operating lever is. rocked in a clockwise direction about its pivot 9, while as the bellows contracts, the operating lever moves in the opposite direction.

I 1 vide oppositely projecting V For assisting in guiding thelever and causing it to remain at all times in the desired position, there may opposite sides of the lever.

' At its outer end the operating lever may be damper, in case of a hotair furnace, or to Each-of these rings dimensions as simultaneously of both illustrated in Figure some other part the control of which isdesired, in case of another type of installation. Cooperatingwith, the hook 14 is a ring 18' from which extends a chain or operating cable 19 which,'in the case of a hot air furnace, is secured to the rear, check damperalso has secured thereto a retaining chain 20 so that the rings may be removed from their respective hooks at the 'will of the operator and the furnace manually, controlled, the retaining chains holding the chains 17. and 19 together with 7 the rings in such position thatthey arereadiaccessible for re-engagement with the hoolrsf13 and 1 1.. i

Adisengagement of the character referred to. is vdesirable, for example, in mild weather wherein it may be desired not to even maintain a temperature as temperature sponsive means 5 is adjusted.

.A further object in temporarily disengaging the operating lever 8 is to permit closing front draft and rear checlrdamper of the furnace when fueling with bituminous coal. The closing of both dampers'prevents smoking at the coaldoor; Formed in the panel 2 is an opening 21 with which cooperates a shutter 22, the shut-' ter having ga-fpivotal 'mounting 23. This shutter in Figure 1 is shown in closed position,-while in'Figure 3 it-is illustratedas in its open position. Theshutter'is of such 7 to substantially conform to the opening in a casing 2 1' projecting rearwardly from'the panel and inclosing the temperature responsive assembly 5. This casing is freely open-at its upper and lower ends so as to permit the heated air to pass readily over the temperature responsive means.

With the shutter 22 in its closed position 1, it will be apparent that the only temperature to which the tem perature responsive means 5 is subjected, is the temperature of the heated atmosphere within the casing. On the other hand, if'the shutter 22'is moved to its partially open position, as illustrated, for example, in dotted lines in Figure 1, the temperature conditions to which the assembly 5 will be subjected will b'e-a com-promise'between the temperature of p be secured to the 7 panel 2 suitable guides 12 spaced to lie on turned inwardly, open position against the action of a return .spring 27, while high as the minimum for which the temperature re-V 1 sion .of' the bellows takes place may be varied expansion of ed by the changed position'of the shutter. my

For adjusting the shutter, there may be through an adjusting screw plate 26 carried by the panel, the adjusting screw being effective on the shutter at a point above the. plane of the pivot 23. Thus, as the screw 25is the shutter is moved to its as the screw is turned in the opposite directionthe spring 27 is effective forreturningthe shutter to its closed position. V Y

' Carried ibyv the shutter: is an indicating plate 28 having suitable indicia 29 thereon adapted to cooperate with the indicator or pointer 30. 1 i f With all of the parts in the position illustrated in Figure 1, and assuming'the tem perature responsive assembly 1') to have been charged for complete expansion at a temperature, of 135, when the heated air which surrounds the same reaches this temperature, have been moved to the position inFigure 8. willhave opened the while the'chain 17 will draft damper, the rate of combustion within the furnace.

.With thissame charge, however,

nace temperature at which complete'expanillustrated" rear check damper, have closed the front over wide limits by'adjusting the positionof theshutter. It will be apparent that as the shutter is more widely opened, more cool the furnace is operating in such manner as to provide a supply ofheatedair at a temperature of135, the actual temperature to which the temperature responsive assembly is subtemperature and'room temperature. It may be assumed by way of example only that this compromise will subject it to atemperatureof 100. Thus, inorder to obtain complete for the air within the furnaceto be actually heated to a higher-temperature. Any de-v sired condition from minimum to. max mum temperature conditions maybev obtained by suitable adjustmentof the shutter 22. Y

Not'only does thisxprovide an accurate type of control of temperature conditions,

' but it prolongs the life ofthe apparatus it- I selfsince the temperature responsive means is never subjected to a temperature as high 7 as the maximum 1 air temperature. This tends to considerably prolong its length of life. i

provided'an adjusting screw 25 extending it will be apparentthat the parts will ,In this "position the chain 19 V therebytending to cut down 7 the 'furv 7 n jected will be a compromise vbet-weensuch v the bellows, itwill be necessary 7 7 As a safety means, I-may. provide the op- .spectively to connections erating lever 8 with an extension 31 so disposed that, when the. bellows'has expanded to a predetermined point, the lower endof the extension 31 willzcome into engagement, with a safety trigger pin 32 projecting forwardly from the shutter. After this engagement, continued movement of the'lever 8 in a clockwise'direction will be effective for swinging the shutter 22 to its open position and thereby admitting a large volume of relatively cold air to the system.

Because of its simplicityiand ease of adjustment by delicate means, it will be apparent to'those skilled in the art, that any desired movement of the shutter 22 may be effected from a remote point in various ways, as for instance, by means of light flexible cables or, tubes transmitting pressure,'etc., said cables or pressures beingv actuated either manually or thermostatically at a remote point.

The device also lends itself admirably to electrically operated remote control, such for example, as that ordinarily referred to as room temperature control. p This may be accomplished by positioning within the assembly 5 a resistance heating element 33, which may be of any desired construction, and the terminal wires of which come re- 34 and 35. By providing a temperature responsive switch 1n a room at a position remote from the reg ulator effective for closing the circuit when the temperature in a room rises, current may be supplied to the heating unit 33 for expanding the bellows irrespective of the temperature of the air in the furnace. In this manner the regulator may be made responsive not only to air temperature, but also to room temperature.

While I have herein illustrated a construction in which the lever 8 is shown as-efi'ective for operating dampers, it will be understood that it is equally effective for operating other devices, such as valves and the like. It may also be utilized either directly, or through the medium of chains as illustrated, other electric circuits such as those which control fans, blowers, or the like constituting a part of the circulatory system for the heated air.

From the foregoingit will be apparent that I have provided a relatively simple and compact device which may be easily installer in a furnace in such manner as to effectively control the fireconditions therein. It also embodies means whereby a combined control such as that represented both by'airtemperature and room temperature may be simultaneously obtained.

The construction illustrated also obviates the use of cumbersome weights or of relatively stiff springs, and provides a construction which is compact, easily operated and easily installed.

said to h of different temperature, means for decreaspreferred embodiments of my invention, it

Willbeunderstood that changes in the con struct'ion and operation described herein may be made without departingeitherfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of my broader claims.

e I claim:

-1. In a temperature regulator, a casing, temperature responsive means in said casing, casing being constructedfor the flow therethroug'h of a heating medium, and means for varying theeffectiveness of such medium, said means including a manually operable control valve for admitting another medium at diiferent' temperature thereto, therebeing means normally out of operative engagement with said valve cally moving said valve when said temperature responsive means reaches a predeter mined temperature. V v

2. In combination, a furnace regulator, a wall forming a expansible and collapsible element'within heating medium from a plurality of sources to saidcasing, one of said'connections communicating with the space within saidwall.

8. In combinatiom'a furnace regulator, a wall forming a medium, a temperature responsivemeans, a casing carried by said wall and partially enclosing said means and adapted to have su plied thereto heat from a plurality of different sources, one of which includes the space within said wall, and remote control means for decreasingthe amount of heatfrom one of said sources. L Q 7 c 4. In combination, a: furnace regulator, a wall forming a confining means for a heated medium, a temperature responsive means, a casing carried by, said wall and partially inclosing said means and adapted ave supplied thereto a pluralityof fluids mg the amount of one of said fluids and-increasing the amount of the other, said means including a manually, adjustable control valve, and temperature responsive means for moving said valve.

i 5. The combination witha furnace, of a said regulator includ= temperature regulator,

confining means for a heated medium, a casing carried .by said wall, an

for automaticonfining means for a heated ing a temperature responsive manually adjustable means bodily disposed within the furnace, and means-for'more'or less'shielding said temperature responsive means from 'the temperature within the furnace and subject'- ing said temperature responsive means to compromise temperature conditions different from those existing within the furnace.

6. The combination with a I temperature regulator,said regulator including a temperature responsive means bodily disposed within the furnace, and means for furnace, of a ating lever,

more or less shielding said temperature responsive means from the temperature within the furnace and subjecting said temperature responsive means to compromise temperature conditions different from those existing Within'the furnace, said last mentioned means including a manually adjustablevalve for admitting to said temperature responsive means relatively cool air from a point exteriorly from the furnace.

7 In a furnace regulator, a damper operdamper operating connections secured thereto, temperature" responsive means for operating 'said' lever, operated by said lever for substantially'cutting off the supply of heat thereto from the furnace and permittingthe passage to'said temperature responsive means of a relatively cool actuating medium.

8.In a furnace regulator, a damper operating lever, damper operating. connections secured thereto, temperature responsive means for operating said lever, and means responsive means temperature responsive operated by said lever for substantially cutting ofi the supply of heat thereto from the furnace and permitting the passage to said means of a relatively comprising a a easlng a valve for opening tioned opening and r or o BIllIlQ said inlet 0 enin for-var in \J the effectiveness of said heat source on sa d heat I6SPOI1S1V6'II133J1S. I

"10. A temperature regulator, comprising a support having an opening therein, a casing A 12. A' temperature regulator, comprising havinginlet and outlet openings, heat responsive means within said casing, and a valve for opening or closing said first mentioned opening and simultaneously closing or opening said-inlet opening, said valve being,

mounted to swing across said casing. 119A temperature regulator, a support having an opening therein, a casing having inletand outlet openings, heat responsive means positioned within said 'c as-l ing,"and a valve for opening or closing said first mentioned opening and simultaneously closing or opening said inlet opening.

a} support having anopeningtherein, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, heat responsive means positioned within said casing, and a valve for opening. or closingsaid first mentioned opening and simultaneously closing or opening said inlet opening, valve being adapted to swing across casing. 1 r

- said inlet and the other and means A or opening said ously closing comprising 7 said " l8. A temperature regulator, comprising a support having an opening therein, a casing having inlet and. outletv openings, heat responsive means within said casing, and a valve for opening or closing said first mentioned opening and simultaneously closing or opening said inlet opening, therebeing means for manually or automatically operatingsaid valve.

14. A temperature regulator, comprising a support having an opening therein, an

open ended casing with one end serving as an end as an outlet open: ing for the casing, heatx responsive means positioned within said casing intermediate said open ends, and a valve carried bysaid support for opening or closing said first mentioned opening and simultaneously, closing means for manually or automatically operating said valve.

inlet opening, there being 1 '15. A temperature regulator, comprising a support having an opening therein,- a casing having inlet and outlet openings, heat responsive; means within said casing, and, a valve for opening or closing said first mentioned opening and simultaneously closing or opening said inlet opening, there being connections-between said heat responsive means and said valve be automatically movedby said heat responsive means. a Y

16. A temperatureireg ulator, comprising a support having Van-opening therein, a casing having an open inlet end and an open outlet end, heat responsive means positioned within said casing lntermedia'te said" open ends, and a valve for opening a or closing said first mentioned opening and simultaneor opening said inlet end, there being connections between said heat responsive means and said valve wherebythe valve may be automatically moved by said heat responsive means. 1 V r 17 lfhecombination with a furnace wall having an opening therein, said opening also having an. opening therein, a casing within said all adjacent said first mentioned opening and providedwith inlet and outlet openings, heat responsive means in said casing, and a control valve for said coveropening carried by'said cover."

whereby the valve may of a coverfor 18. The combination with a furnace wall of a cover having an opening therein,

opening therein,

said opening also having an mentioned opening and provided with inlet and outlet openings, heat'responsive means in said casing, and a control valve for said cover opening carried by said cover, said control valve being operat ve for closing or opening said cover opening: and simultaneously enlargmg or restricting the inlet opening of said casing, I 19. The combination with a furnace wall having an opening therein, of a cover for said opening also having an opening therein, an open ended casing Within said Wall adjacent said first mentioned opening and carried by said cover, heat responsive means 1n said casing ad acent one end thereof, and

a control Valve for the opposite end of said casing.

20. The combination with a furnace wall having an opening therein, of a cover for said opening also having an opening therein, an open ended casing Within said Wall adjacent said first mentioned opening and car ried by said cover,

a control valve for the opposite end of said casing, said control valve being operable for restricting or enlarging the effective opening of one end of the casing of said casing and simultaneously opening or closing said cover opening.

21. In a regulator, a temperature responsive means adapted for'primary control by a temperature controlling medium, and a plurality of means for varying the efl'ectiveness of such medium, one of said means including means for artificially supplying heat from a source other than said medium to the temperature responsive means, and another of said means including 7 mechanism for shielding said temperature responsive means from said medium in Whole or in part.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT E. NEWELL.

heat responsive means 1 1n sald casing ad acent one end thereof, and 

